Fire destroys rural Petaluma home

December 4, 2012, 10:30AM

12/04/2012

Dozens of firefighters battled demanding conditions early Tuesday morning to douse a fire at a rural Petaluma-area home surrounded by tons of debris and junk.

The two-story Stadler Lane home was destroyed in the 3:30 a.m. fire. No one was hurt and the home wasn't being lived in, the owner told fire officials.

Fire engines and water tenders had difficulty navigating the narrow street and were forced to park above the 4-acre property, running a 400-foot water line down a muddy unpaved drive to the home, Sonoma County Fire Capt. Bob Borges said.

Stadler Lane House Fire

Valley Ford Fire chief Nick Epstein works with Blake Skinner to identify hot spots in a home destroyed by fire. Firefighters were called to the Stadler Lane home fire in northwest Petaluma at 3:37 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2012.
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Lakeville Fire chief Nick Silva looks over the charred remains of a home destroyed by fire. Firefighters were called to the Stadler Lane home fire in northwest Petaluma at 3:37 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2012.
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Firefighters were called to the Stadler Lane home fire in northwest Petaluma at 3:37 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2012.
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Firefighters were called to the Stadler Lane home fire in northwest Petaluma at 3:37 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2012.
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Firefighters are given direction for the mop of a home fire on Firefighters were called to the Stadler Lane in northwest Petaluma on Tuesday, December 4, 2012.
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Firefighters were called to the Stadler Lane home fire in northwest Petaluma at 3:37 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2012.
(John Burgess/The Press Democrat)